Writing in a personal capacity to share views, information and resources for teachers, trade unionists and campaigners in London - and beyond!

Friday, 31 May 2013

Thanks for the solidarity - Lewisham stands united

LEWISHAM STANDS UNITED AGAINST THE BNP

STATEMENT FROM LEWISHAM NUT

Lewisham NUT would
liketo thank the many trade unionists,
community campaigners, residents and youth, from across all sections of our
community, that have made clear that they were going to respond in such large
numbers to the call for a Unity Rally against the BNP outside the Lewisham
Islamic Centre (LIC) on Saturday.

We
are in no doubt that the size of the likely turnout in Lewisham, as well as
neighbouring Woolwich, helped to persuade the Metropolitan Police to impose
conditions under the Public Order Act instructing the BNP to move their march
and rally to Whitehall.

In
these circumstances, and although the NUT
and the LIC had discussed the possibility of continuing with the rally to
celebrate the unity shown, once again, by the people of Lewisham against those
who would try to divide us, the Islamic Centre has decided that “after careful consideration, we have decided
that the most responsible course of action to now take is to cancel the rally”
on Saturday.

The NUT obviously respects this decision to cancel the
rally and is asking that you pass on this information, and our thanks, to
others who may have intended to gather in Lewisham on Saturday to show your
opposition to the BNP’s provocations and to stand in solidarity to the Islamic
Centre.

As
the Lewisham Islamic Centre has stated: “It gives us great satisfaction to
hear that one of the most significant reasons that the BNP
cancelled their march was because of the community concerns expressed by
the communities of both Boroughs … we believe that the coming together of
so many different faiths, different races and so many different sections
of society to unite with one voice declaring “you pick on one of us, then
you pick on all of us” …is indeed the
real manifest victory. The achievement is therefore two fold – firstly,
the BNP march through our great Borough has been cancelled and secondly,
the action of the BNP has reaffirmed the unity of the community
within our Borough ,which has always been strong”

Lewisham
NUT understands that there is likely to be a counter-protest against the
BNP/EDL march in Central London that those
that were intending to rally in Lewisham may wish to attend. However, Lewisham
NUT and other Lewisham trade unionists will also be monitoring events locally
tomorrow in case of any attempts to threaten the Islamic Centre in spite of the
police ban.

We hope that all those that have come together to
oppose the BNP’s attempts to build support after the horrific murder of Lee
Rigby will maintain the links that we have built, strengthen our community
ties, and work together to campaign for schools, homes and jobs for all, not
racism.

Martin Powell-Davies

* Brought up as a socialist by parents who hungered for what is right * One adopted grandfather left me a double-barrelled name, the other his name on a 1926 General Strike black-list * Joined the Labour Party as a teenager, left it when it abandoned the values and traditions of so many who built it in the past * Given a comprehensive education at St.Andrew's, Leatherhead * First-class degree from King's College, Cambridge, for those who like that kind of thing * Secondary science teacher in London 1986-2015 * Lewisham NUT Secretary 1993-2015, organiser of many campaigns to defend teachers and education * Living in Sydenham since 1997, father of four who were all so well-supported by Sedgehill School * Member of the NUT National Executive 2010-15 * NUT London Regional Secretary 2016 - * Proud to have been name-checked by Gove for saying that his 'reforms' could make teaching unbearable * Member of the CWI, following its global struggles via http://www.socialistworld.net * Candidate for TUSC in Lewisham West & Penge, 2015 * Member of Penge CC, often a 'Middle Aged Man In Lycra' on Sundays